Collections
Below is the description of my collections to the extent they have been mounted. For a limited number of countries I aim for completion from the issuance of the first commemorative stamp through a certain end date as indicated. The remaining collections are accumulations in (mostly) single albums that I do not aim to complete. I am progressively drawing up wish lists that can be viewed here
- Core collections
- Straits Settlements
- SS stamps were issued from 1867 through 1945. Prior to 1867, the SS were under the jurisdiction of Calcutta, with Indian stamps being used. The Straits Settlements were dissolved in 1946 and the territories placed under British Military Administration. My collection - with many gaps I don't expect to fill - covers 1854-1945. Of particular interest to me are the stamps that have markings of the corporate entities that first used them, or that acted as mail forwarding agencies, and for which I keep a separate album. I keep a passive eye out for items to add to this album. List of chops/perfins already in my collection
- Singapore
- Singapore experienced break-neck growth in its first decades of existance and has subsequently forever been reinventing itself in order not to be left behind by shifting trading patters or technological change. Looming over this is the story of how the colony was made into a nation by its ruling party. Singapore's stamp issues after its independence in 1965 are a running narrative of this evolution. Singapore started issuing stamps in 1948 when it was still a colony. The end-date of my collection is 2001, after which I only selectively add stamps to the extent that they fit my collecting theme.
- Malaysia
- The collection covers both national and state issues starting from independence with 2005 as the end date. It has a special focus on post marks showing place names.
- Japan
- This collection runs through the end of the Heisei Era (2019) for national issues after which I collect only selected commemmorative issues.
- UK & Anglophone Commonwealth
- United Kingdom & colonies
- 1840-2011
- Principal colonies in collection: Ceylon, India, Hong Kong, KUT, Nigeria
- Australia
- The collection starts with the formation of the Commonwealth in 1900 and runs through 2001.
- Canada
- New Zealand
- This collection is mounted through 1985, but is moderately complete through 2007.
- Oceania
- Single album containing accumulations of Australian Antarctic Territory, Norfolk Island, New Zealand's dependencies, Fiji and selected other countries.
- Americas
- United States
- This collection is near complete through 1990 and I am now trying to extend it through 1996.
- ASEAN
- This collection comprises of ASEAN 5 + Brunei and Vietnam. Indonesia is near complete through 2004 and also includes a limited selection of 'advertising/commercial covers' built up around the theme of economic history.
- Other Asia
- China (PRC)
- India
- Pakistan
- Taiwan (ROC)
- Europe
- EU founding states: (BeNeLux, France, Germany, Italy)
- Southern Europe (Greece, Spain, Portugal & colonies)
- Scandinavia & the Baltic States
- Switzerland
- Islamic World & Other Africa
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Iran
- Malawi
- 1964-1995
- Morocco
- Saudi Arabia
- Sudan
- 1897-1968
- Tunesia
- Turkey
- UAE